State Stories

2016 Class 1A Boys Soccer

October 26, 2016

The IHSA Class 1A Boys Soccer State Finals moves to a new home in 2016, as the tournament will be hosted for the first time in East Peoria. The Eastside Centre's stadium will be the venue for the State Final matches, with East Peoria High School hosting the event at their home facility. The semifinals will unfold at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, with the third-place match (3:00 p.m.) and state championship (5:00 p.m.) following on Saturday, October 29.

Presenting sponsor Country Financial brings fans broadcasts of all four matches this weekend via the NFHS Network at www.IHSA.tv with IHSA TV veteran Nate Baliva on the call, while the state championship match will also be rebroadcast on Comcast SportsNet Chicago.

Semifinal #1ST. JOSEPH CHARGERS (12-8-0) vs.
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CYLONES (22-3-1)
St. Joseph has enjoyed a storied tradition that includes seven previous Top 4 state final finishes, however, a state title has eluded a program that finished second in Class A in 1997 and Class 2A in 2014. The Chargers enrollment dropped them to Class 1A this season, and the program has rolled through the postseason by outscoring its five foes 31-1. St. Joseph is making its third state trip under ninth-year head coach Stan Niemiec, whose squad is led by senior forwards Emmanuel Lopez (21 goals, 11 assists) and Dylan Robledo (10 goals, 18 assists).

With an enrollment of 89 students, Cornerstone Christian has a chance to become one of the smallest team state champions in IHSA history in the first state final appearance in school history in any sport. Head coach Jeremy Knapp’s squad has performed under pressure, winning each of its last three State Series matches by a single goal. The Cyclones have one of the top scoring tandems in state history leading the way, as super sophomores Moses Kabuswe (45 goals, 17 assists) and Paul McBride (42 goals, 17 assists) have combined for 87 goals on the season.

GIBAULT CATHOLIC HAWKS (15-7-1) vs.
NORMAL UNIVERSITY PIONEERS (15-6-5)
Gibault Catholic has been one of the most consistent small school soccer programs in the state over the past two decades, as the Hawks will be making their 10th state final appearance since 2000 this weekend. Sixth-year head coach Matt Reeb has continued the tradition, leading the school to its fourth state title in 2013. After a two-year state final absence, Gibault returns behind the scoring of senior forward Ben Mueth (22 goals) and Dalton Scace (12 goals, 11 assists) and a defense that has allowed just one postseason goal with senior keeper Trevor Davis between the pipes.

UHIGH head coach Jeremy Stanton has led the Pioneers to winning seasons in nine of his 10 years at the helm, and breaks through for the first state final appearance (4th in school history) this weekend after edging St. Edward 1-0 in the Super-Sectional. Fittingly, forward Nate Clay (28 goals, 5 assists) tallied the gamewinner against St. Edward off an assist from fellow sophomore J.D. Kelley (14 goals, 19 assists). The Pioneers have a third double-digit goal scorer on their roster, while boasting a defense that has allowed one goal or less in 13 matches this season, including six shutouts.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY45th annual State Series
9th year of 3-Class Series
1st year at Eastside Centre